Safeena Husain is an Indian social activist and an entrepreneur. She is known as the wife of famous film director, Hansal Mehta. Safeena Husain is the founder of Educate Girls (EG), which focuses on reducing the gender gap prevalent in India.
Wiki/Biography
Safeena Husain was born on Friday, January 21, 1971 (age 51 years; in 2022) in Delhi, India. He completed his schooling at Delhi Public School, RK Puram in New Delhi. In 1995, he obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economic History from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). In 2012, Safeena Husain completed her Executive Education Program in Building Global Enterprises in India from Harvard Business School (HBS). In 2015, Safeena Husain, from Harvard Business School Executive Education, completed the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) course.
Family
parents
His father’s name is Yusuf Bakshish Husain. He is an actor and historian by profession.
Yusuf Bakshish Husain, father of Safeena Husain
Husband & Son
Safeena Husain got married to famous film director, Hansal Mehta, on May 22, 2022 at Taj Campton Place, San Francisco, California.
Safeena and Hansal holding their marriage certificate
Safeena Husain has two daughters. The eldest daughter’s name is Kimaya.
Kimaya, Safeena’s daughter
Rihanna is the younger daughter.
Rihanna, Safeena’s daughter
Relationships/Affairs
Before marriage, Safeena Husain had a direct relationship with Hansal Mehta for 17 years.
Safeena Husain with Hansal Mehta
Career
Work in the United States
Safeena Husain lived in London for five long years. After graduating from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 1995, Safeena moved to San Francisco (Bay Area), where her degree in Economics helped her get a job in Silicon Valley. Initially, he started working for an Internet-based startup, which wanted to build a 3D web browser. However; after working there for nine months, the startup closed and Safeena lost her job. Safeena, from the beginning, wanted to work for social causes. In 1995, he was offered a job at Child Family Health International (CFHI). As an employee, Safeena visited several South American and Asian countries such as Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia, South Africa and India.
Back to India
In 2007, after working for Children’s Family Health International, Safeena Husain decided to quit her job and return to India, to start her organization. Safeena, while working with CFHI realized the impact of the organization in reducing the gender gap. When asked about the reasons for establishing Educate Girls, Safeena, in an interview, stated,
I returned to India to drive the agenda closest to my heart — that of girls’ education. From the very beginning, I had a strong personal motivation to make a difference in the Indian education system mainly because I myself found my path through education. A goat is an asset, a daughter is a liability. Parents do not want to invest in daughter’s education. Why do we have to send him to school? She will go to her husband’s house to stay. What is the point of him studying?”
During the initial phase of establishing Educate Girls; Safeena had to struggle. During the interview, Safeena said,
They called us mad dogs, and slammed doors in our faces… none of this surprised us. To them, we are strangers trying to convince them to challenge the status quo. The discussion on girls’ education was not as great as it is today. But even now as we enter new districts, the resistance has the same core reason – thought.”
In 2007, Safeena started her organization with just a few employees and volunteers. As of 2021, Educate Girls has more than 9.5 lakh girls enrolled, who in return benefit more than 11.5 million families. The organization also has more than 2,000 full-time employees, assisted by more than 15,000 community volunteers.
Recognition of his social work
Safeena Husain immediately became the focus for her work. In 2019, Safeena Husain delivered a speech about her journey, life experiences and her future vision. The speech caught the attention of the audience. The video of his speech, uploaded by TEDx, has amassed over 1.7 million views.
Safeena Husain delivers her speech at TEDx
Later, in the same year, Safeena Husain was invited to a talk show called Ted Talks India: Nayi Soch. The talk show is hosted by Shah Rukh Khan and the show airs on Star Plus.
Safeena Husain with Shah Rukh Khan, host of Ted Talks India: Nayi Soch
In 2021, Educate Girls signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Women Empowerment of the Government of Rajasthan.
Signing of MoU between Government of Rajasthan and Educate Girls
When asked about her experience working with government departments, Safeena said,
With government, we need to build alignment. By identifying the government’s priorities in certain areas and supporting them to achieve their desired goals, we will have a shared vision of success. If the data tells us that the gender gap is greatest in a particular district, that’s where we will work to work together and get permission from the government to work.”
In 2021, Safeena Non-Profit Organization partnered with Starbucks to promote Educate Girls (EG).
Starbucks plaque at Indira Gandhi Airport, New Delhi
In 2020, during the second wave of the Corona Virus in India, Educate Girls donated free rations and hygiene kits to poor households in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Relief materials have been distributed under the organization’s COVID Relief Initiative. In 2021, Educate Girls launched the world’s first Development Impact Bond (DIB). DIB is not only recognized in India but also in other parts of the world. That same year, his organization was listed in the Top 100: Most Inspiring Kindergarten through 12th Educators.
Safeena Husain with village girls
Important positions held in different organizations
Besides being the director of Educate Girls, Safeena Husain is also an Advisor to several social service organizations such as India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS), EdHeroes, Bharat EdTech Initiative, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and L’Oreal Paris. He also works as a Member of the Dalberg Quality Council, Community Leaders Future Project Impact Community Leaders – Education and he is also one of the Directors on the Workex Board of Directors.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- In 2019, Safeena Husain was awarded the Beyond Business Award by the Economic Times.
Safeena Husain with the ET Premier Women’s Leadership Award
- In 2017, Safeena Husain received NITI Aayog’s Women Transforming India Award.
Safeena Husain received NITI Aayog’s Women Transforming India
- In 2016, Safeena Husain was awarded the NDTV-L’Oreal Woman of Worth Award.
Safeena Husain holds the NDTV-L’Oreal Woman of Worth Award
- In 2015, Safeena Husain was listed in the Top 100 Most Influential Global Leaders Empowering Women Worldwide. The list was released by Empowering Billion Women.
- In 2015, Safeena Husain won the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. The award was presented to him by the Skoll Foundation.
Safeena Husain with the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship
- In 2015, Safeena Husain was awarded the Qatar Foundation WISE Award.
Safeena Husain at the World Innovation Summit for Education
- In 2014, Safeena Husain was awarded the Stars Impact Award by Yayasan Bintang.
President Bill Clinton with Safeena after the presentation of the Stars Impact Award
- In 2014, Safeena Husain was awarded the USAID Millennium Alliance Award. The award was presented by the Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari.
Safeena Husain during the USAID Millennium Award presentation
- In 2013, Safeena Husain was selected as a Rainer Arnhold Fellow.
- In 2012, Safeena Husain was selected as a Women Change Maker India Fellow by the Womanity Foundation from Geneva, Switzerland.
- In 2011, Safeena Husain was awarded the Edelgive Social Innovation Honors Award by the Edelgive Foundation.
- In 2011, Safeena Husain won the India Development Market Competition, held by the United Nations.
- In 2010, Safeena Husain was the winner of the Dasra Village Capital Award.
Facts/Trivia
- Safeena Husain refers to the girl volunteers who work at Educate Girls as Balika Volunteers.
A Balika Volunteer from Educate Girls
- Safeena Husain’s parents separated when she was a child. While living with her mother, Safeena was often abused by her stepfather, as a result, she ran away to the Ashram. In an interview, Safeena said,
I felt like I was in a thousand pieces. Instead of heading to college, I ran away to an ashram. I began to live on the banks of the Ganges and began to read various kinds of scriptures.”
- Safeena Husain looks up to her husband and father, as role models. In an interview, he said,
For me there are only two people that I look up to who are my role models for equality as well, namely my father and my husband. They are both great cooks, meaning I never learned to cook. My vision of equality is their vision, so my father and my husband have reshaped my worldview. They are my role models.”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
